Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

Novak Djokovic crushed Rafael Nadal 6-1, 6-4 in their blockbuster Olympics clash on Monday as the two titans met for the 60th and possibly final time. The showdown between the two most successful men’s tennis players in history appeared to be fizzling out before a late fightback from Nadal enabled him to avoid his heaviest-ever defeat by Djokovic. “I’m very relieved,” said Djokovic. “Everything was going my way, I was 6-1, 4-0 up but I played a sloppy service game and gave him chances.” It was 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic’s 31st win in a rivalry that began on the…

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has appointed comedian Seyi Law, alongside others as aides. The comedian whose real name is Oluseyi Aletile was appointed as a Senior Special Assistant (Entertainment & Tourism) to the governor. A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ondo State Ebenezer Adeniyan said the appointment is “in continuation of efforts to enhance governance and service delivery to the people of the State”. Moments after his appointment, the comedian thanked the governor for the decision. “Thank you to His Excellency, @LuckyAiyedatiwa, for this appointment,” he wrote on his official Facebook page. “May…

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has directed police top brass to protect intending participants of the planned #EndBadGovernance protest slated for August 1 to 10, 2024. This was contained in a response letter by the IGP to the request of human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa. Adegboruwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had on July 26, 2024 written the IGP to provide police coverage for protesters. The IGP, in his response letter dated July 29, 2024, directed senior police officers to attend to the request of the senior lawyer. Egbetokun’s response was signed by his Principal Staff…

South Africa’s ruling ANC on Monday expelled its former leader ex-president Jacob Zuma for leading a rival party into elections following disciplinary proceedings. The African National Congress, which lost its absolute parliamentary majority for the first time in May largely due to Zuma’s defection, said the veteran politician’s conduct was “irreconcilable” with its constitution. “Former President Jacob Zuma has actively impugned the integrity of the ANC and campaigned to dislodge the ANC from power while claiming that he had not yet severed his membership,” ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula told a press conference. He was thus “expelled” from the party,…

The D’Tigress of Nigeria have defeated the Opals of Australia in their first match at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Rena Wakama-led ladies pulled off a spirited performance to beat the Australians 75-62 at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium on Monday. The victory was the team’s first win in an Olympic match since Athens 2004, when they defeated South Korea in an inconsequential classification game after crashing out. The Australians were listed as third on the competition’s power ranking, while Nigeria was named 12th.

Prices of cement may likely be reduced, the founder and chairman of the BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu has said. Rabiu who said the prevailing price of cement in the country is the most friendly compared to what obtains in other African countries, however, emphasized that with a strengthened naira, the current price would be further reduced. He disclosed that BUA had begun working towards that goal with the addition of a fourth cement production line to its Edo State factory. Rabiu disclosed this in Abuja during a strategic business partnership agreement and the celebration of a 12-year partnership between…

Veteran actor Jide Kosoko has expressed satisfaction with his decision to vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stating that he “does not regret” his choice. In a recent interview on “Curiosity Made Me Ask” with Bae U Barbie, Kosoko praised Tinubu’s performance, saying he is “doing very well” despite the challenges of fixing a battered economy. Kosoko emphasised that repairing the economy is a difficult task and requires time. He reaffirmed his support for Tinubu, citing their long-standing relationship and Tinubu’s contributions to nation-building. Kosoko highlighted Tinubu’s role in the struggle for democracy in Nigeria, stating that his name cannot…

Senator Jibrin Barau, the Deputy Senate President and first Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, has called on the organisers of the upcoming nationwide protest to reconsider their plans to ensure the preservation of peace in the country. In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, Barau emphasised that President Bola Tinubu is actively working to address the nation’s issues. He asked the protest organisers to allow the government more time to implement its policies outlined in the Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at socio-economic development. Barau acknowledged the challenges faced by the country and…

Russia on Monday said it had downed 39 drones fired by Ukraine overnight mainly targeting border regions. “The anti-air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 19 drones in the Kursk region, nine above Belgorod, three over Voronezh and five over Bryansk,” all bordering Ukraine, the Russian defence ministry said on Telegram. Three others were neutralised in the northwestern Leningrad region near Saint Petersburg in an “attempted terrorist attack”, it said. Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian fuel depots, refineries and energy facilities are frequent, particularly in the border regions. Russia has also launched massive attacks on Ukraine’s power plants, causing severe electricity…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is mobilising Abuja youths and other stakeholders against joining the planned August 1 to 10 nationwide protests over hunger and hardship. Speaking during a ministerial engagement with FCT youths from Abuja South Federal Constituency, in Kwali Area Council of the FCT on Sunday, Wike said, ”Youths and other stakeholders in Bwari and Gwagwalada Area Councils will also be engaged on the same issue in the coming days.” The News Agency of Nigeria reports that a similar interaction was held with stakeholders in Abuja Municipal Area Council, in Abuja on Saturday. The…